Sutherland Shire is home to a variety of snakes. They live in environments including wetlands, grasslands and bush and play a vital role in these ecosystems.
What do I do if I find a snake?
Snakes may seek shelter inside houses and backyards. If you see a snake, stay away and keep children and pets at a safe distance.
Snakes are protected in NSW and a permit is required to remove them.
Do not try to catch or scare a snake. Most snakes will try to avoid humans but may become aggressive if startled or threatened.
If you need a snake removed from your property, contact a licensed snake catcher.
The RSPCA provides advice on what to do if you find a snake in or around your house
If the snake poses an immediate risk to human safety, the NSW Fire and Rescue will also respond and have trained staff to capture and relocate snakes. You should ring 000 and ask for 'Fire'.
Report injured snakes to WIRES.
What do I do if someone is bitten by a snake?
All snake bites should be treated as potentially life-threatening.
Keep calm.
Bandage the area firmly.
Call triple zero (000) for an ambulance.
Do not wash the site or try to remove the venom yourself. This makes it more difficult for medics to identify venom.
More information is available on the healthdirect website